Bengals turn attention to A.J. Green, supposedly

Posted by Mike Florio on August 5, 2014, 11:06 AM EST

AP

With quarterback Andy Dalton committed to the Bengals through 2020 (but with the Bengals committed as a practical matter to Dalton only through 2015), the next question becomes when his primary target will make a largely one-way commitment to the franchise.

Via Peter King of TheMMQB.com, coach Marvin Lewis texted receiver A.J. Green after Dalton’s deal was done to ask Green to direct his agents to get talks moving. It would have been more effective for Lewis to send the same message to the powers-that-be in the front office, given that the Bengals have a reputation for waiting to get big-money deals done.

Despite the head coach’s directive, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that a contract for Green isn’t expected “any time soon.” Dalton’s contract that was signed on Monday had been the subject of on-again, off-again talks since February.

Unlike Dalton, who was due to make roughly $1 million this year, Green is under contract for two more seasons, at $3 million in 2014 and $10.1 million in 2015. That gives the Bengals plenty of time to try to cram the Kaepernick/Dalton structure onto Green, hoping that he’ll eventually tire of the situation and tell his agents to accept the best offer.

If Green holds firm, the Bengals eventually may have to use the franchise tag. Which could set the stage for Green eventually leaving, since the Bengals have a habit of letting their franchise players walk away in lieu of giving them a 20-percent raise or signing them to a long-term deal.

^^^ hahaha..
No way in hell Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings are ahead of Dez Bryant, Demarius Thomas and a few others..

bcdc26 says:Aug 5, 2014 11:21 AM

Going to be interesting to see which team between the Cowboys or Bengals are smart enough to sign their premier receiver first. Once the first signs, the other will use it as a benchmark and try to improve on it in their own negotiations

Don’t get sucked into thepftpoet’s rankings starfan79. They are never meant to be taken seriously by anyone other than thepftpoet himself.

doctorrustbelt says:Aug 5, 2014 11:34 AM

SUPPOSEDLY: Months ago… there was an Andy Dalton contract scandal.

Now… SUPPOSEDLY… there is an A.J. Green contract scandal.

I will say it again… and… I will be right (AGAIN)… A.J. Green will get signed without actual scandal.

kehav1 says:Aug 5, 2014 11:36 AM

I think AJ will be the highest paid receiver…

nopepper123 says:Aug 5, 2014 11:36 AM

Why does Florio keep referring in every Bengal article that the players would be leaving. He showed absolutely no knowledge in the Dalton situation and now he makes a ridiculous statement about Green leaving. Easy buddy, Green will be in Bengal pinstripes for a long time.

Dalton without AJ Green is Mark Sanchez 2.0. Wait, that might be unfair to Sanchize- at least he’s won a playoff game. So has Tebow for that matter… And both with worse defenses and running games than the Bunguls had last year too…

Ol’ Red Romo better beg management to lock up Green long term and soon before he makes a run for free agency in a few more one-and-done years leaving him frustrated and looking for a franchise that can actually win a post season game!!

Will be interesting to see how the Bengals handle the cap ramifications. Lots of big money guys on the team. Atkins, Burfict, Green, Dalton. With all these guys now geting paid, or about to, it will be harder to keep the band together.

bonniebengal says:Aug 5, 2014 11:52 AM

..”Which could set the stage for Green eventually leaving, since the Bengals have a habit of letting their franchise players walk away in lieu of giving them a 20-percent raise or signing them to a long-term deal.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tell that to Geno Atkins. You seem determined to paint the Bengals in a bad light even though they are following the QB contract structure set by the 49ers.

Mike Brown already said they weren’t extending AJ right away because they were picking up his option. Did you miss that?

I have to agree with you bearclaw69 he always has some negativity to say . In his own innuendo way just like the comment he made in this article.Like the teams is going to force AJ to make the same deal as Dalton. I honestly can’t stand the guy to much of a two face when it comes to certain teams and players.One minute he has something good to say about a player or team the next he is totally opposite.Some of these journalist think they know what’s best for a team or player or how they should go about it if they know so much why didn’t you get into sports management instead of journalism.

nbooat says:Aug 5, 2014 12:17 PM

Every journalist/fan has their favorite team…They try not to appear bias but it slips out…It is clear that Florio is a Steelers fan (just look at where he lives)…Everybody feels like their team is being disrespected because of journalistic bias…It is not trendy, cool or lucrative (shout out to ESPN) to be a Bengals fan so we won’t get any love even when we win the Super Bowl…So who cares what these talking heads say…BTW even the Bengals have journalistic fans (Eliot Harrison, Soloman Wilcots, Cris Collinsworth, and Boomer Esiason)

AJ Green is the 3rd best receiver in the NFL, behind A. Brown and CJ. It will be a downright shame if he inks with Cincy, ensuring a career void of a single playoff win.

troy43mvp says:Aug 5, 2014 12:24 PM

Is that the same source that said Dalton and the Bengals are not close to getting a deal done or the source that said Marvin Lewis was going to get fired after 2013 if he didn’t win a playoff game? Maybe the source that said Ray Rice will be 4 to 6 games suspended.

“He should’ve been first. Green consistently makes Dalton look competent. How does one have a playoff QB rating of 50 when you have that guy to throw to.”

You, along with countless others, don’t know what they’re talking about. You can blame Jay Gruden for horrible play calling and trying to surprise defenses. Typical Andy Dalton rhetoric. Quit listening to talking heads and watch a game or two

Mike Brown, the AFC North’s favorite owner if you root for any team other than the Bengals.

And before you bring up the exciting Tshirt you won last season over the Steelers and Ravens just remember that you had an extra 1 and 2 to work with because of your lovely OC and Carson Palmer to build that team.

Let’s examine shall we?

Dalton has a first round and second round tackle (one of whom is a frequent pro bowler), a first round guard, a fourth round guard and a fourth round center protecting him.

He has two first round Tight Ends, one of whom is a Pro Bowler, two second round backs and the all world receiver AJ Green who’s only been to the Pro Bowl and been first team all pro in three seasons. Now someone does have to throw to him but Larry Fitz still had 1400 yards with John Skelton.

John. Skelton.

Further Dalton’s also had a top five D three out of three years he’s been in the league because of Zimmer making chicken soup out of well you know. Honestly he could start anyone with a pulse at corner and they’d produce. This will be the first year to see if it was Zimmer or just astute drafting but it remains to be seen. All I’m saying is as a Georgia fan there was a reason Geno was drafted in the third round and not the first. Zimmer was instrumental in coaching him up and creating a scheme to feature him.

Now factor all of these things in and realize you’ve gotten a tshirt for all these troubles.

A T-Shirt

Give that team to Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, hell give it to Romo and see what happens.

I am starting to think the Vikings fans that post here are all on crack.

cincyalldaway says:Aug 5, 2014 12:40 PM

@crownofthehelmet
AJ Green is the 3rd best receiver in the NFL, behind A. Brown and CJ. It will be a downright shame if he inks with Cincy, ensuring a career void of a single playoff win.
===============================
Come on crown. to even mention brown’s name in the same sentence with Green or Johnson is, well, Florio like! I know your feelin extra trollish today but lets be real, brown could carry or even begin to fill AJ’s jock. And you knoooow this!

cincyalldaway says:Aug 5, 2014 12:47 PM

hakunamangata = Stupidity

Very “special” guy. Must have rode the short bus! Only one problem with the players you mentioned above there scooter. None of them were better than Dalton last year, other than Wilson obviously, who threw less passes all year long than Dalton was asked to in one or two games. Next troll please…………..

I know your a steelers fan and you look for any way to slam the bengals but please be factual and have a grip on current events. Maybe work on that instead of trying to get josh Gordon off or worry about agents violating the dead period before free agency like you make us read every year the week before free agency.

t8ertot says:
Aug 5, 2014 12:24 PM
“He should’ve been first. Green consistently makes Dalton look competent. How does one have a playoff QB rating of 50 when you have that guy to throw to.”

You, along with countless others, don’t know what they’re talking about. You can blame Jay Gruden for horrible play calling and trying to surprise defenses. Typical Andy Dalton rhetoric. Quit listening to talking heads and watch a game or two
_____________________________

Gruden is a good coordinator, that’s why he’s a head coach now. NFL fans use this displacement defense mechanism often. They put blame on their coordinator so they still have hope for their QB of the future. 1 td and 6 ints in the playoffs cannot be attributed to a coordinator. Take off your glasses and direct blame where it belongs. It will actually be interesting to see how Dalton does without the training wheels Gruden provided.

nbooat says:Aug 5, 2014 1:01 PM

##hakunamangata
Dalton had more tds and yds (except for Ryan who had 200yds more playing from behind) than all the qbs you mentioned…second, you would brag about the genius of Ozzie/Rooney if they could have swung the trade the Bengals pulled off against Oak…It must be hard for you to see the Bengals making the playoffs each year(4/5 years)…making playoffs=winning regular season!!!

Brady was throwing to guys who wouldn’t make a college first team in the mac conference,

Roethlisberger had turnstiles along his O line but delivered the ball to guys who were special team specialists anywhere else;
Same for Flacco who was throwing to five guys no longer in the league with the worst Guard and center play in the league and no run game

Ryan had a speed bump for a LT and no healthy WRs other than Harry Douglass and an old Steven Jackson

Cam had Steve Smith, Greg Olson and six guys no longer on the roster

Brees’ weapons include a 7th round pick and a 3rd round tight end. Give them to Dalton and it’s Jimmy the backup and Colston the bus driver.

I could keep going but the point is it’s a team game and honestly I would kill for the team that Cincy has on offense and most other QBs would too.

Sorry but Deion Branch was a superbowl MVP with Brady, and Wilson was throwing to who again? Golden tate? Jeremy Kurse? Yeah lets see them in orange.

So I may be a troll, or I may be stupid in your estimation but I do know football and I also realize that when you keep letting talent walk out the door for mediocre (but smaller in the market) signings you may not win anything but said T shirt.

After all you could have kept Jonathan Joseph instead of low balling him and not had to draft two corners and focus on another WR, or O lineman or D lineman and been even tougher.

bonniebengal says:Aug 5, 2014 1:21 PM

Dalton is just one of three quarterbacks in NFL history to have thrown for over 3000 yards in each of his first three seasons, joining Cam Newton and Peyton Manning, and just one of three to have passed for at least 20 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, joining Manning and Dan Marino. Dalton is the only quarterback to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to three consecutive playoff berths, and just one of five quarterbacks to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons.

Manning didn’t win a playoff game til he’d tried 6 times. Manning has 8 one and dones. Yet he’s one of the best to ever play the game. Dalton will be fine. He has choked in the playoffs, no doubt, but so did the rest of the team.

crownofthehelmet says:Aug 5, 2014 1:27 PM

With the exception of being a ravens fans, hakuna knows what he’s talking about. Dalton could have a 158.3 rating during the season – but no one will ever take him seriously until he doesn’t choke in the playoffs. There are about 20 other QBs in the NFL I’d rather take my chance with. They might not have the flashy regular-season stats, but at least they’d have a chance at a post-season run.

And the same fans that say how Dalton has beaten X Team, are the same ones that say the team/coaches lost the playoffs, not Dalton. If he can step up to beat a team, why can’t he step up to win a playoff game. I’ll tell you why – that stage is too big for Dalton.

johnc44 says:Aug 5, 2014 1:31 PM

“Gruden is a good coordinator, that’s why he’s a head coach now.”
Did you actually watch the games?
Gruden is a good offensive mind but he came from the Arena league where a running game doesn`t exist.
Dalton was 8th in the league in pass attempts.179 more than Russell Wilson!That is on Gruden.Your not going to average 5 yards a rush vs Pittsburgh,Baltimore or most playoff teams but you can`t abandon the run game like Gruden did against good defenses.Dalton is good not great so asking him to drop back 48 times a game like he has in the 3 playoff loses does reflect on Gruden as much as Dalton.

“So when the 49ers structure a contract, it’s smart. When the Bengals structure a contract the same way, it’s somehow selfish. Gotcha.”

And don’t forget, Kaep’s contract can only go down, while Dalton’s can go up. But why should facts get in the way of a good smear…

troy43mvp says:Aug 5, 2014 1:42 PM

In all honesty the 3000 yard thing his first three years is a little deceiving. That’s more about the league we play in today. Pass happy league,… In fact that is more of a catch 22 because if he throws less in a couple of the playoff games (especially last years) they may actually win.

“…Dalton is good not great so asking him to drop back 48 times a game like he has in the 3 playoff loses does reflect on Gruden as much as Dalton.”
_______________________
Drop backs, sure you can blame Gruden, but realize that Dalton put them in that position to begin with. Too many quick 3 and outs, or turnovers leading to quick scores… the D was constantly gassed in the SD game and therefore giving up long drives and points on most drives. When you are in a shoot out, or low on time, you have to be able to keep firing missiles, not blame your OC for making you throw too much. And let’s be honest- scheme is NOT what caused Dalton to throw those picks (last year alone). 2 picks and both were errant throws behind receivers, which I can’t say Gruden caused.

What 20 quarterbacks would you take over Dalton? Dalton has a big upside, those who only have seen national televised games please stop chiming in like you watch this guy every week like the rest of the Bengal lovers.

“He should’ve been first. Green consistently makes Dalton look competent. How does one have a playoff QB rating of 50 when you have that guy to throw to.”

You, along with countless others, don’t know what they’re talking about. You can blame Jay Gruden for horrible play calling and trying to surprise defenses. Typical Andy Dalton rhetoric. Quit listening to talking heads and watch a game or two
__________________________________

Yeah, dude – it was Gruden’s fault that Dalton fumbled without being touched and that he panicks in the playoffs year after year… lmao

Florio is a Steeler fan. He’s ignoring the big contracts the front office has dished out in recent years. Dunlap, Atkins, Hall, Whit, Dalton…… Sounds like wishful thinking that Green will walk to help his beloved Steelers. If not, then he’d know the track record of re-signing the stars is legit.

“Gruden is a good coordinator, that’s why he’s a head coach now. NFL fans use this displacement defense mechanism often. They put blame on their coordinator so they still have hope for their QB of the future. 1 td and 6 ints in the playoffs cannot be attributed to a coordinator. Take off your glasses and direct blame where it belongs. It will actually be interesting to see how Dalton does without the training wheels Gruden provided.”

You still don’t know what you’re talking about. Gruden is an arena league coach famous because of his brother. He called 50 plus passing plays with Dalton when they were running the ball very well. He will flourish under Hue Jackson. Just watch

crownofthehelmet says:Aug 5, 2014 4:36 PM

I’m confused, was Gruden named the coordinator just for the playoff games, or was he also calling plays during Dalton’s magical regular season? I haven’t heard of too many coaches choking in the playoffs, especially coaches whose QB throws a 1:6 TD/Int ratio. Sounds an odd place to lay blame, kind of like blaming a loss on the injury of a punter.

thegenoatkinsdiet says:Aug 5, 2014 4:44 PM

“He’s ignoring the big contracts the front office has dished out in recent years. Dunlap, Atkins, Hall, Whit, Dalton……”

Even in the ‘cheap’ days they paid some big money to guys like Carson Palmer, Willie Anderson and Levi Jones. Unfortunately, sometimes history is a selective thing…

It’s widely known that AJ is not happy being a part of that franchise.

They should trade him sooner rather than later.

bonniebengal says:Aug 6, 2014 7:06 AM

pittsburghdamned says:
Aug 5, 2014 9:51 PM

It’s widely known that AJ is not happy being a part of that franchise.

They should trade him sooner rather than later.
______________________

Except that AJ went to the media and said he doesn’t want any QB throwing to him but Dalton. But again, don’t let facts get in the way. I think Pittsburgh fans have some silly dream that they are going to get AJ in two years. Not a chance. He won’t go there, and you can’t afford him.

thegenoatkinsdiet says:Aug 6, 2014 9:24 AM

You might have a good point about Gruden… if Gruden hadn’t put blame on himself:

“Gruden admitted during a local radio interview Monday night that he has a tendency to overthink certain game situations and plays.

‘Sometimes maybe I give [defensive] coordinators too much credit like, “OK, this play worked a couple times, no way it’s going to work again,”‘ Gruden said to ESPN 1530 AM’s Lance McAlister and former Bengal and team radio personality Dave Lapham. ‘You outthink yourself, and that’s the whole thing you go through as a coordinator is how to attack.'”

Gruden wasn’t the only problem, or even the main problem. But he desreves his share. I know Steelers fans need things simple, but laying it all on Dalton is over-simplifying a little too much.

crownofthehelmet says:Aug 6, 2014 9:30 AM

“better than Dalton in any category”

that’s the point bengalguy, you can have your categories. Given what I’ve seen, I’d take any one of those other 20 to win me a playoff game. And I stopped at 20, probably had more. I wonder how many other guys would lead categories with the supporting talent Dalton has had.